Student news round-up: Universities' ebola preparations, UEA SU U-turn, and York's 'horrible building'

A doctor examines blood samples of Ebola (Getty)

Universities warned to prepare for ebola

Ebola has been in the news worryingly frequently of late. Now, amid fears that the virus could spread out from western Africa, it has emerged that universities have been warned about what to do if it arrives on their campus.

The Tab reports that Universities UK, a group that represents university vice-chancellors, sent out alerts and information about the virus ahead of west African students' arrival in the country in September. The information warned: "Although the likelihood of imported cases is very low, healthcare staff in the UK need to remain vigilant."

In other concerning disease news, research at the University of East Anglia has suggested that dengue fever could spread to European countries within decades if climate change remains unchecked.

Confusion as UEA union U-turns

The UEA students' union (UUEAS) faced criticism this week after it decided that advance tickets for its freshers' week events would be available for first years only - after sales had already opened to the wider student body.

The move, intended to allow new students the first choice of tickets, led to immediate confusion as returning students were told they should hand back their tickets to claim a refund. As student newspaper Concrete states: "This decision was not received positively."

Following the backlash UUEAS swiftly U-turned, announcing that it would add extra capacity to some events and allow older students to buy advance tickets from a later date. A union official admitted: "Every year, faced with incredible demand for our events, we try to restrict tickets for Welcome Week to new students. It looks like this year we were a bit too clever and have disappointed hundreds of returners who want to join in the fun."

Research finds girls hide their intelligence to please boys

A professor at Warwick has claimed that teenage girls feel the need to "play dumb" to please boys, The Boar reports.

Dr Maria do Mar Pereira, who spent three months in a class of school children to observe their behaviour, found that boys as young as 14 believed girls should be less intelligent than them. Consequently, the girls pretended to be less smart than they really were in order to keep them happy.

Dr Pereira said: "There are very strong pressures in society that dictate what is a proper man and a proper woman. Young people try to adapt their behaviour to fit into society."

Can't find a job? Try your local railway station

A marketing graduate who couldn't find a job came up with a novel idea this week: handing out CVs to commuters in Waterloo station.

Alfred Ajani, 22, graduated with a 2:1 from Coventry University but had no luck getting any job offers. Undaunted, he set up shop with a placard in Waterloo - and found himself inundated with interview requests within minutes.

Ajani told The Tab: "For the first 10 minutes nobody noticed, but after the first person approached me ten more came up with business cards. One guy even got me a coffee."

York defends "horrible building"

The University of York has said it is "committed to retaining" its Central Hall after it was named one of Britain's ugliest buildings in the Independent.

John Rentoul, the newspaper's chief political commentator, included the concrete structure in his list of Britain's top ten "horrible buildings".

A spokesperson for the university told York Vision: "Most commentators would agree that it is both iconic and fit for purpose... Other 1960s buildings on the campus will be progressively replaced over the next 10 to 15 years, but the University is committed to retaining Central Hall."